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Touring the Estuary & Exploring Legislative Advocacy for Preserving Paradise Day 4
On Sept. 16th, the 2025 Preserving Paradise cohort gathered for their fourth session of the course, which focused on legislative advocacy and included a boat tour in the Caloosahatchee Estuary.
Preserving Paradise is a joint initiative between SCCF, Captains for Clean Water, the Everglades Foundation, and the Sanibel Captiva Chamber of Commerce to empower local business leaders for economic and ecological success by immersing them in water quality science and advocacy.
Aboard two Adventures in Paradise vessels, program participants enjoyed the morning on the water learning about SCCF’s River, Estuary, and Coastal Observing Network (RECON), visiting an oyster reef, and identifying fish and other wildlife within seagrass habitats. SCCF CEO James Evans, Marine Laboratory Director Eric Milbrandt, Ph.D., and Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis were aboard to explain SCCF’s science and policy work to monitor and protect these ecosystems.
Preserving Paradise Participant Liam Farrell of Cypress Lake High School was pleased to bring along students from the high school’s newly launched Water Academy.
“This session of Preserving Paradise was an incredible opportunity to apply the classroom knowledge participants have gathered to real-life experiences,” said SCCF Policy Associate Allie Pecenka. “Exploring the Caloosahatchee Estuary with expert guides helps connect the dots on how decisions at the local, state and federal level impact our local water quality.”
Following the boat tour, the group toured the SCCF Marine Lab and enjoyed lunch at Doc Ford’s on Sanibel before diving into the world of legislative advocacy for the Everglades and local water quality.
Shannon Estenoz, Chief Policy Officer for the Everglades Foundation and former Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, presented on Everglades restoration and its history, future outlook, and the complex water policy surrounding this massive undertaking.
A Q&A style panel featured policy experts from SCCF, Captains for Clean Water, and the Everglades Foundation, and gave participants the chance to pose questions on topics including restoration projects, roadblocks, legislative issues, and carrying the torch for advocacy in the business community.
“Our detailed discussions on the legislative and advocacy work seeking to improve the health of these ecosystems was a really impactful way to drive these connections home, and showed how we can all be part of the effort,” Pecenka said.
The day wrapped up with an introduction to the group project participants will be engaged in, focused on integrating actionable items for water quality advocacy and stewardship in the business community.
The next session of Preserving Paradise will be held Oct. 7 and will further explore ecosystems within the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary.